The fiftieth anniversary of the passing into law of the Medical Termin- ation of Pregnancy Bill on 27 October 1967 is a moment for serious reflection. Since then, more than 8 million abortions have taken place in Britain. In 2015 alone, there were 185,824 abortions in England and Wales and 12,134 in Scotland. Greater access to abortion is hailed by some as a liberation. For those who uphold the dignity of human life from conception, it is a tragedy.

Anyone who has faced the situation personally knows the dilemma created by news of a pregnancy that is unplanned and unwanted.